Charles Barkley celebrates 50th birthday

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As celebrities honored him and his TNT cohorts razzed him about his upcoming 50th birthday during NBA All-Star Weekend, Charles Barkley said it would be hilarious if he dropped dead before Wednesday.

Well, it’s Wednesday and Charles Barkley is alive and well. And he’s 50 years old.

The Chuckster is the latest NBA superstar from the ‘90s (arguably the league’s greatest decade) to reach the big 5-0. Rockets legend Hakeem Olajuwon hit the half-century mark on Jan. 21 while Sir Charles’ good buddy Michael Jordan celebrated the milestone birthday on Sunday.

“I’ve had such an amazing life,” Barkley said during the pregame show for Sunday’s 62nd All-Star Game, which was played at Toyota Center. “I’ve accomplished a lot. When you grow up in the projects in Leeds, Alabama, you don’t think that you’re gonna have my life.”

Born on Feb. 20, 1963, Charles Wade Barkley rose from those humble beginnings to become a superstar that few would describe as humble.

Brash and bruising, Barkley established himself as one of the greatest power forwards in league history; despite being just 6-foot-4 (he was often listed as 6-6). He was a relentless rebounder – earning the moniker “The Round Mound of Rebound” – and a prolific scorer as he finished his 16-year career with 23,757 points and 12,546 boards.

Drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers with the fifth pick in a legendary draft class which included Olajuwon (first overall), Jordan (third) and John Stockton (16th), Barkley learned the NBA ropes from veterans Julius Erving, Moses Malone, Maurice Cheeks and Andrew Toney.

During the 1986-87 season, Barkley became the man in Philly as he made his first of 11 trips to the All-Star Game.

Charles Barkley played the final four seasons of his career with the Rockets. (Chronicle file photo)

His career-best season, however, would come in 1992-93 as a member of the Phoenix Suns. Barkley won the MVP award as he guided the Suns to the best record in the league (62-20) and a trip to the Finals. In the championship series, Barkley’s best wasn’t enough against Jordan and his two-time defending champion Chicago Bulls.

Barkley’s Suns would fall to the champs the following two seasons as the Rockets rallied from a 2-0 hole in the 1994 playoffs and a 3-1 deficit in the 1995 postseason to oust Phoenix.

If you can’t beat them, then join them and Barkley did just that as he was traded to the Rockets following the 1995-96 season in a deal that sent Robert Horry and Sam Cassell to the Suns. Despite forming a Big Three with Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler, Sir Charles still wasn’t able to claim the NBA throne.

A severe knee injury against the Sixers (of all teams) on Dec. 8, 1999, ended his basketball career. Though Barkley did the rehab work needed to appear in one final game against the Vancouver Grizzlies on April 19, 2000. Despite not winning a title, he won two Olympic gold medals and was named one of the league’s 50 greatest players.

With his playing days over, the outspoken Barkley took the next logical career step: television analyst.

He joined Turner Sports in 2000 and basketball fans have been laughing ever since as TNT’s ‘Inside The NBA’ has become must-watch television.